Loom and method of weaving



Nov. 12, 1935.

W W. ROBERTSON LOOM AND METHOD OF WEAVING 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2,1933 n 5 tn n He W mw t 70 5 Q nu Nov. 12, 1935. w. w. ROBERTSON2,020,434

LOOM AND METHOD OF WEAVING Filed Oct. 2, 19:3 3 Shee'ts-Sheet 2 Snuentorhi 'bi. Robertson tsorneas Nov. 12, 1935.

W. W. ROBERTSON LOOM AND METHOD OF WEAVING Filed Oct. 2, 1933 3Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG. 4

M s s 2 or te n nb r mm m n. t

Patented Nov. 12, 1935 UNlTED S OFFICE 2,020,434 LOOM AND METHOD OFWEAVING Application October 2, 1933, Serial No. 691,764

12 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism and the method forweaving pile fabrics and it is the general object of the invention tomake provision for weaving an Axminster fabric with a soft filling,preferably though not necessarily on the usual type of Axminster loom.

The ordinary Axminster loom employs a set of'tube frames each of whichis provided with a plurality of equally spaced yarn tubes'from which thetuft color yarns project. During the first part of the tuft formingoperation the tube frame places these yarn tubes between the spaced Warpthreads. The latter must of necessity preserve their alignment in orderto permit entry of the tubes and this is usually accomplished by the useof a type of filling sufiiciently stiff to prevent appreciable crimpingby the binder warps. The filling most frequently'employed is jute whichremains substantially straight and is not subject to crimping orshrinking, hence the warp threads can retain their alignment.

It is desirable that a fabric having the pattern on the back should bemade of soft, pliableyarns so as to feel like an oriental rug. Thissoftness can be obtained by the use of cotton filling, but such yarnsare easily crimped, and as a result contract enough to crowd thewarpthreads toward the center of the loom, thus destroying theiraligmnent with the yarn tubes.

It is an important object of my present invention to make provision forplacing in the shed a temporary ,device which will be sufiiciently stiifto prevent crimping of the soft cotton filling, the device being removedafter its function of spacing the warp threads has been performed. As aparticular means for accomplishing this result I may introduce wiresbetween the binder threads at the time the filling is laid and close thesheds on the wire and filling. Although the weft is soft enough toyield, yet the binderthreads are prevented by the wires, temporarily atleast, from effecting any crimp in the filling, with the result that thefell of the fabric remains at its full width.

It is customary in Wilton looms to introduce pile wires into the shedwhich is formed by the tuft or color yarns, and any of the devices whichaccomplish this result on Wilton looms may be employed in carrying outthe spirit of my present invention. I prefer, however, to use the weftneedle mechanism of the usual 'Axminster loom to introduce and withdrawthe wires. I employ a set of pile wires to be used-in rotation,.thewiredrawing means pulling out the front wire of the set and introducing itinto the shed behind the set.

In the: weaving of fabrics of the type to which my present inventionmore particularly relates there may be variations in the tension both ofthe x warp and weft systems of threads, and because of these variationsI do not wish to be limited to the number of wires to be used per tuftforming beat of the 100m. Where the warp tension is very high it may bedesirable to introduce a "wire into each Warp shed so that in athree-shot weave there will be three wires introduced for each dippingof the tube frame. Where the tensions are comparatively low, however, afewer number of wires may be sumcient topreserve the 15 desired spacingof the warp threads.

With these and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth g0 in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, .wherein a convenient embodiment-of myinvention is set forth,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a narrow loom made according to my presentinvention with a wire motion shown at the end of the withdrawing stroke,the tube frame and parts cooperating therewith being omitted,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but with the wire and needleinserted in the shed,

Fig. .3 is an end elevation of the needle and wire motion taken in thedirection of arrow 3, Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, showing the tubeframe and certain parts c0- operating therewith,

Fig. 5 is a detail transverse vertical section of the fabric takenonline 5-5 of Fig. 1,

Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6-6 of 40 Fig. 5,

Fig. '7 is a detailed elevation of the wire,

Fig. Sis a detail top plan, parts being removed, of the shuttle and wirereleasing mechanism indicated in Fig. 2.

as usual in Axminster looms by mechanism not shown herein both totension the weft and detect for its presence. The needle may have theend thereof adapted for cooperation with the point E8 of the shuttle l1and the shaft I5 may be actuated by mechanism not shown to give theshuttle a transverse motion relatively to the nee-.

dle when the latter is in the position Fig. 2.

,A. transporting shown in chain 39 moves around a sprocket M to presentthe tube frames one at a time to weaving position. The single tube frame32 shown in the drawings is of usual construction and may be operated bythe ordinary declutching and transfer motions common in Axminster loomsand illustrated in Fig. 4. The tube frame will ordinarily bedisconnected from the chain and moved down toward the system 'of warpthreads, preferably though not neces- 5'5 W may be provided with a headhaving an ,open slot 46 and an operating or pulling slot 41.

springs 55.

sarily with the yarn tubes 33 pointing rearwardly 'so that the coloryarns Y project toward the reed. Subsequent movement of the tube framemoves the yarn tubes down through the warp threads, after which anupward movement of the tube frame places the tuft yarns in correctposition for holding by the lay during the pull-01f motion and also forco-action with the comb 34.

'The latter is raised and lowered in the usual manner immediately behindthe cloth board 35 upon which the fabric or cloth C rests.

To the foregoing structure, which is of the usual Axminster form, I addmechanism which enables the needle to insert a wire or the like into theshed and later withdraw it from the 'cloth. In carrying my inventioninto effect I secure to the eye end of the needle a clip 40 which may bemade of resilient sheet metal 4| bent around'and secured to the needleN, and having two resilient fingers 42 notched as at 43 to receive theleft end of a wire 44.

The wire preferably isnormally straight and sufficiently stiff to resistcrimping or bending by the successive crossings of the warp threadswhich form the ground weave of the fabric.

As shown in Fig. 7 the right end of the wire The carrier 22 is providedwith a hook 48 formed and operated to enter the slot 41, while the fixed"guide bar 49 is arranged to enter the slot 46 when the needles are heldby the fabric, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

A wire rail 53 is pivoted as at 5| and has a groove 52 in which islocated a retaining bar 53 pushed toward the rear wall 54 by means of Alink 56 is operated by a crank lever 51 and cam 58 to move the rail backand forth in timed relation with. the operation of the needle motion.

To illustrate the method of procedure I have shown in Figs. 5 and 6aparticular construction of weave, although the practice of theinvention isnot limited to this weave. As shown, upper and'lowerstufiers 60 and BI, respectively, to-

gether with the binder 62 form the warp system '64 to project above theground weave.

of the fabric and may be manipulated by harness mechanism to producesheds in accordance with the showing of Fig. 6. As shown therein shot offilling 63 is below both stuifers but above the binder; shot 64 isbetween the stuffers and above the binder; while the third shot 65 isabove both stuifers and below the binder. The tuft 66 may extend downfrom the top of the fabric through the stuffer planes and under thelowest shot 63, after which it is bent up between shots 63 and Thesethree shots and the tuft represent a repeat or cycle of the loom, butthe invention is not limited to this sequence. The harness mechanism His operated to produce the proper movements on the parts of the stuflersand the binder to permit the needle to enter sheds formed to produce thefabric shown in Fig. 6.

The mechanism for detaching the wire from the needle may include areleasing finger 1| operated from the shaft l5 by the mechanism shown inFig. 8. The needle operating arm 16 moves rearwardly as soon as theneedle reaches the position shown in Fig. 2, and when the needle iswithdrawn the arm l6 returns to its forward position. An arm 12 fast onshaft l5 has a pin and slot driving connection 13 with a lever 14pivoted to an extension 15 from the bracket I4. The pin H projectsupwardly from this lever 14 and the relation of the parts is such thatwhen the arm 16 moves rearwardly with the needle fully in the shed thearm 12 and lever 14 will coact to move pin 1| forwardly to push the wireout of the clip 40.

In operation, assuming the parts to be in the position shown in Fig. 1with the wire rail for- Ward with a wire W and the needle out of theshed. The rail will move rearwardly to the dotted line position shown insaid figure, forcing the left end of the wire into the clip 40 andcausing a driving edge 69 of carrier 22 to enter a slot 10 of the wirehead. The needle is then moved into the shed, the wire moving with it,and when the needle is entirely in the shed in the position shown inFig. 2, the finger 1| is moved forwardly, as already described, todetach the wire from the clip 40. This inward movement of the needlealso places the head of the wire so that the guard 49 is in the slot 46and the newly inserted wire is therefore held with the end released.During the last part of the needle inserting movement the hook 48 willcam itself along the front of the head as viewed in Fig. 2 until it canenter the slot 41, so that when the needle is withdrawn the freshlyinserted-needle is left in the shed behind the set previouslyincorporated in the fabric, while the front needle of the set iswithdrawn. The guide bar is in forward position at this time so that theadvancing head of the wire being extracted can enter the groove 16defined between the bar 53 and wall 54. The bar frictionally holds thehead so that movement of the wire may be controlled correctly. When thecarrier 22 has reached its outermost position the parts are again in theposition shown in full lines in' Fig. 1 and a wire inserting andwithdrawing cycle has been completed.

As already described the wire is inserted into all of the sheds of theground weave, but certain features ofmy invention apply to the weavingof such fabrics as can be held at their full width by inserting a: fewernumber of wires. When it is desired to omit the wires from certain ofthe sheds, I may "employ the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and 10, where acam plate 86 moves about anaxis 8| in timed relation with the loom tohave 'one complete revolution for 'each tuft formin cycle of the loom,that is, for every third beat of the lay as specifically set forthherein. This cam plate may have provision at points 82, 8'3, and 84 forholding tappets 85, one of which is shown in Fig. 10, which co-act witha lever 88 pivoted about a fixed stud 89. The upper end 955 of the leveris extended rearwardly so that it can engage the head of the foremostwire and push the latter rearwardly out of the path of hook 48 when atappet in any one of the positions on web 80 engages the lower end oflever 88.

In the operation of this feature of my invention, should it be desiredto insert a needle in each shed of the loom, there will be notappets onthe plate and the lever 88 will therefore be inoperative. Should it bedesired, however, to insert the needle in the middle shed between thestuffers that tappet corresponding to the shed for the shot 64 will beomitted but the tappets for the other two shots will be applied to theplate. Under these conditions the end 90 is pushed rearwardly when theneedle lays shots 63 and. 55, thereby preventing the hook 48 frompulling out a wire on these beats of the loom. In like manner two wirescould be inserted and one omitted by a corresponding variation in thetappets, and the sheds from which wires are to be omitted can beselected at will by the user and thereafter controlled automatically bythe cams.

By referring to Fig. 5 it will be seen that the tightening of the binderwarps is resisted by the wires and that the latter lie straight, therebypermitting the soft cotton filling also to lie straight. The elfecttherefore is to prevent crimping and shortening of the filling and thewarps are held out properly spaced as is the case where stiff resistantfilling is employed, such as jute. The

tubes of the tube frame therefore are in alignment with the warp threadsand are kept in registry with the proper binders and stuifers sincethere is no shrinking of the fabric at the fell. The wires can be madesmall so that when withdrawn there will be little or no change in thefabric, and any crimping which results upon the withdrawing of theforemost wire will have no effect on causing shrinkage at the fell. Itis to be understood that a sufiicient number of wires will be used sothat whatever shrinkage occurs in the forward part of the fabric willnot be transmitted to the fell.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have made provision forweaving a. fabric with a softv filling wherein the warp threads are keptproperly spaced to align with the yarn tubes of the tube frame. It willfurther be seen that the method set forth includes the insertion in thesheds of devices such as wires which will shield and protect the softfilling and prevent crimping of them by the warp threads. Furthermore,it is within the spirit of my invention to introduce these devices orwires in a part only of the sheds.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes andmodifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wishto be limited to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is:

1. In a loom operating with warp threads to define a shed, a weft needleto lay weft, a Weft supporting wire, means to attach the wire, to theneedle, and means to introduce the needle into a shed to carry the wiretherewith into the same shed.

2. In a loom operating with warp threads to define a shed, a weft needleto be introduced into and withdrawn from the shed to lay weft, a weftsupporting Wire attached thereto, means to introduce the needle and wireinto the same shed, and means to detach the wire from the needle whenthe latter is in the shed, the needle to be withdrawn while the wireremains in the shed- 3. In a loom constructed and operated to weave afabric having a ground weave including warp threads and shots of fillingand having a tufted surface, means separate from the filling introducedinto the ground weave to support the shots of filling and prevent thesame from being appreciably shortened by deformation on the part of thewarp threads, and mechanism to remove said means while the fabric is inthe loom.

4. In a loom constructed and operated. to weave a pile fabric having atufted surface and a ground weave formed of warp and weft threads, a setof elongated elements to be incorporated temporarily into the groundweave to prevent the warp threads from deforming and shortening the weftthreads, and means to withdraw an element at the front of the set andreinsert it at the rear of the set during the weaving operation.

5. In a loom operating with Warp threads to define a shed, a weft layingneedle, a weft shuttle to cooperate with the weft of the needle, 2. wireattached to the needle to be introduced into the same shed as thefilling, and mechanism operating in timed relation with the shuttle todisconnect thewire from the needle.

6. In a loom having warp threads to define a shed, a Weft needle, a weftsupporting wire at tached to and movable into the shed with the needle,a shuttle to cooperate with the .weft of the needle, and means tooperate the shuttle and 40 disconnect the wire from the needle.

7. In a loom operating with warp threads to define a plurality of shedseach to have a shot of filling therein, a plurality of wires for thesheds, means to withdraw a wire and reinsert it into a shed with a shotof filling, and selective mechanism controlling the means to determineinto which of the sheds the wires shall beinserted.

8. In the method of weaving a pile fabric with tuft yarn tubes to beplaced between spaced warp threads, the step of introducing a softdeformable shot of filling into a shed of the warp threads together witha separate device to prevent crimping of the filling by the warpthreads, and thereafter removing the device while the fabric is in theloom.

9. In the method of preventing warp threads from being drawn bycontracting weft out of proper spaced relation to receive tuft tubes inthe weaving of a tufted fabric, the step of introducing with the fillinga device to prevent the same from being contracted .by the warp thread,and thereafter removing the device while the fabric is in the loom.

10. In the method of preventing warp threads from being drawn bycontracting weft out of proper spaced relation to receive tuft tubes inthe weaving of a tufted fabric, the step of introducing a device intothe warp shed in which the filling lies to prevent the warp threads fromcrimping and shortening the filling, permitting the device to become andremain incorporated into the fabric a given time, and thereafterwithdrawing the device while the fabric is in the loom.

11. In the method of preventing warp threads from being drawn bycontracting weft out of proper spaced relation to receive tuft tubes inthe weaving of a tufted fabric, the step'of first introducing into thewarp shed with the filling a relatively hard device to resist the Weftcrimping tendency of the warp and prevent the latter from deforming thesoft filling,.and thereafter withdrawing the device while the fabric isin the 10 loom.

12. In the method. of preventing warp threads from being drawn bycontracting weft out of proper spaced relation to receive tuft tubes inthe weaving of a tufted fabric, the steps of introducing wires into thesame shed with the shot of filling, accumulating a set of wires in thefabric to prevent the warp thread from crimping the soft filling andthereby maintain the warp threads in proper spaced relation to receivethe tubes, and thereafter removing the wires while the fabric is in theloom.

WILLIAM W. ROBERTSON.

